Paper feeder for packaging machines

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, which comprises a pair of spaced endless chains, a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said endless chains, means for driving said endless chains along a predetermined path including at least one rectilinear portion, a supply of sheets of material mounted adjacent said rectilinear portion of said predetermined path, means for rotating the rollers about their axes in a direction such that the tangential component of the rotary motion of the portion of the rollers adjacent the sheets of material is opposed to the motion of the rollers along the rectilinear path, means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to one of said rollers and be carried partially therearound, and means mounted between the two rollers of each pair for receiving a sheet of material carried partially around said one roller and orienting it parallel to the rectilinear portion of said predetermined path.

United States Patent [1 1 Gianese Sept. 25, 1973 PAPER FEEDER FOR PACKAGING -MACHINES [75] Inventor: Goffredo Gianese, Bologna, Italy [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

22 Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 211 App]. No.: 237,684

[58']. Field of Search [56] i References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,127,167 3/1964 Rabinow 27l/27 Primary Examiner-Edward Sroka AttorneyGeorge W. Price et al.

57 ABSTRACT 7 Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, which comprises a pair of spaced endless chains, a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said endless chains, means for driving said endless chains along a predetermined path including at least one rectilinear portion, a supply of sheets of material mounted adjacent said rectilinear portion of said predetermined path, means for rotating the rollers about their axes in a direction such that the tangential component of the rotary motion of the portion of the rollers adjacent the sheets of material is opposed to the motion of the rollers along the rectilinear path, means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to one of said rollers and be carried partially therearound, and means mounted between the two rollers of each 'pair for receiving a sheet of material carried partially around said one roller and orienting it path.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAPER FEEDER FOR PACKAGING MACHINES BACKGROUND This invention relates to packaging machines and, more particularly, to an improved packaging material feeder for packaging machines.

In certain types of packaging machines, the packaging material, such as paper, plastic film or the like, is generally fed to the machine one sheet at a time from a stack, with the sheets being removed from the stack by friction or suction element. These feeding elements are generally either reciprocating types, wherein the feeding mechanism is passed back and forth over the supply removing a sheet from the stack during each pass, or endless types wherein a plurality of the picking elements are mountedon a chain and pick sheets from the stack as they pass thereover.

These types of feeders can, however, only be used with relatively slow packaging machines because, when the output rate of the paper feeder exceeds a certain limit. irregularities occur in the label paper feeding process, with irregularities increase with the increase of said rate.

SUMMARY It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved sheet material feeder.

It is another object of this invention to provide a high speed packaging material sheet feeder wherein a succession of sheets can be fed at a rapid rate without causing irregularities and jam-ups.

In accordance with these and other objectsfa preferred embodiment ofthe invention may comprise a roller, means for moving said roller in a predetermined path over a supply of sheets of material, means for r: tating said roller about its axis in a direction wherein its peripheral motion is opposite to that of its movement along said predetermined path, means for causing'a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to said roller and be carried therearound, and means mounted adjacent the roller for receiving a sheet of material from the roller and orienting it parallel to the predetermined path.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, partially in cross section.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the same apparatus with parts broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of spaced endless chains 1 and 2, each mounted over a pair of spaced gears S and S. The two gears' S are mounted on a shaft R and the two gears S are mounted on a shaft R and the chains are driven by rotating either of the shafts R or R by any conventional means, the other shaft being an idler.

The chains 1 and 2 are made of interconnected pairs of links 101, 201 and 102, 202, respectively, which pass over the spaced gears S and S, defining a pair of spaced upper and lower rectilinear portions with arouate portions therebetween. A toothed track 30 is mounted to one side of chain 1, the toothed track including upper and lower racks 6 and 7 with half ring portions 8 and 9 connecting the racks at the ends thereof to form a track configured similarly to .that of chain 1.

A series of pairs of spaced rollers 3 and 4 are mounted between chains 1 and 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pinion, 5 is mounted at one end of each of the rollers 3 and 4 and meshes with the toothed track 30. With this arrangement as the chains are driven, the rollers are rotated in the opposite direction by the engagement of the pinions 5 in the track 30.

Each of the rollers 3 includes a plurality of projections 103 thereon and an interior conduit 403. Each of the projections 103 includes a hole 203and a plurality of holes 303 communicating with the interior conduit 403.

Each of the rollers 4 are provided with an interior conduit 104 that communicates with the conduit 403 in roller 3 by means of conduits in the links 101 and 102. Links 102 includes a chamber 502 in the interior thereof and an aperture 302 communicating the chamber 502 with the outside of the link.

A pairof cooperating, shaped comb members 17 and 18 are mounted between chains 1 and 2 and are positioned between rollers 3 and 4. The members 17 and 18 define a slot 1718 therebetween.

A stack of packaging material sheets F, such as cigarette package paper, is positioned in a hopper mounted between the chains 1 and 2 and located wherein the topmost sheet is engageable by the rollers 3 and 4.

A vacuum box 10 having an opening in the top thereof is mounted below the lower pass of chain 2 such that the holes 302 in the several links 102 pass over the opening 110 therein.

A conveyor belt 19 is mounted below and in spaced relationship with the rollers 3 and 4.-The conveyor belt is mounted over a plurality of rollers 33 and the belt is perforated and the top pass thereof is connected to a source of suction through a housing 34. The belt is .driven at a speed equivalent to the linear component of the angular velocity of roller 4.

A lever 12 including a roller 13 mounted at the end thereof is pivotally mounted to each of the links 102. A pin 14 is mounted on the pivotal axis of the lever and thus pivots therewith. A valve 15, operable to open and close aperture 302 in link 102, is fastened to pin 14 and is thus operable by pivotal movement of the lever.

The levers 12 are provided on chain 12 in three different types, the types differing by the distance the shafts connecting the lever to the links extend from the chain. The three types are mounted alternatively such that every third lever is of the same type.

Three cam surfaces 16 are mounted adjacent vacuum box 10 in the path of the rollers 13 of the three types of levers 12. As the chains are driven, each of the levers 12 will strike one of the cams surfaces 16 and rotate the levers l2 counter-clockwise as seen in the drawings, causing valve 15 to open hole 302 and establish communication between conduit 403 of roller 3 and vacuum box 10 through link 102. This applies suction through holes 203 and 303 in roller 3 and causes the topmost sheet F in the stack to adhere to roller 3 and start rolling around it.

In order to assure a perfect grip of the front sheet edge, holes 203, having a diameter greater than those of holes 303, are so arranged by sizing the chain and the rollers thereon and positioning the hopper so the holes 203 will register with the front edge of the sheet F when each roller assemblage passes over the hopper. Since the peripheral speed of roller 3 is opposite in direction to that of the chain travel, it is evident that the sheet, as soon as its front edge is in the area of the roller, is slid out of the hopper at a relative speed twice as great as that of the chain travel.

Furthermore, the rotation of the roller 3 in the direction opposite to the chain motion results in a more positive picking action than would result from a picking element moving in the same direction.

During the rotation of roller 3, the sheet F is inserted into the slot 1718 between the comb members 17 and 18, and is transferred under roller 4 to conveyor belt 19, which is driven at a speed substantially identical to the speed of the sheet through slot 1718. This speed is twice that of the chain speed since the sheet is being moved at a velocity twice that of the chain due to the velocity of the roller 3 being added to that of the chain. From conveyor belt 19 the sheet is fed to the packaging machine for use.

The withdrawing of the sheet from the hopper takes place during the interval that the links 102 pass over the cam surfaces 16. At the end of its travel over cam surfaces 16, the lever 12 drops and valve 15 closes hole 302 to interrupt the suction on the periphery of roller 3. At that time the next successive link 102 is passing over vacuum box and the lever 12 thereof is running over a cam surface 16 and the next sheet F is being removed from the hopper.

The apparatus can be equipped with means which prevent the topmost sheet from being picked up and fed by the roller 3 when the object to be packaged by the sheet, for example, a group of cigarettes, is irregular.

This deactivating unit 40 operates by lowering the appropriate cam surface 16 to preclude the opening of the valve in the appropriate link 102 by the lever 12 attached thereto.

Deactivating unit 40 includes a pair of links 21 pivotally connected to the cam surface 16, a gear 22 connected to one link of each of the pairs of links 21 and a rack 23 for driving the gear 22. The rack is operated by an air cylinder 24 that is operated at the appropriated time by detection means associated with the packaging machine. A deactivating unit 40 is associated with each of the cam surfaces 16 and lowers it upon activation of the air cylinder 24.

Having now fully set forth both structure and operation of preferred embodiments of the concept underlying the present invention, it may be that various other embodiments as well as certain variations amd modifications of the embodiments herein shown an described will occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept, All such embodiments, variations, and modifications as incorporate the spirit of the invention and depend upon its underlying concept are consequently to be considered as within the scope of the claims appended herebelow, unless the claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, whch comprises:

a first roller;

means for moving said first roller in a predetermined path over a supply of sheets of material;

means for rotating said first roller about its axis in a direction wherein its peripheral motion is opposite to that of its movement along said predetermined path;

means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to said first roller and be carried therearound; and

means mounted adjacent said first roller for receiving a sheet of material from said first roller and orienting it parallel to the predetermined path, said means including a second roller, means mounting said second roller for movement with said first roller and for rotation, and means for guiding the sheet of material partially around said first roller and partially around said second roller.

2. Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, which comprises:

a pair of spaced endless chains,

a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said endless chains,

means for driving said endless chains along a predetermined path including at least one rectilinear portion,

a supply of sheets of material mounted adjacent said rectilinear portion of said predetermined path,

means for rotating the rollers about their axes in a direction such that the tangential component of the rotary motion of the portion of the rollers adjacent the sheets of material is opposed to the motion of the rollers along the rectilinear path,

means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to one of said rollers and be carried partially therearound, and

means mounted between the two rollers of each pair for receiving a sheet of material carried partially around said one roller and orienting it parallel to the rectilinear portion of said predetermined path.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for rotating the rollers includes:

'a track mounted adjacent one of the endless chains and shaped similarly thereto,

gear teeth provided on the track, and

pinion gears mounted on the rollers and adapted to engage the gear teeth provided on the track.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, further compris- I ing a conveyor belt mounted to receive the sheets of material from said orienting means and transporting it toward a packaging machine.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for causing a sheet of material to adhere to said one of said rollers includes a plurality of apertures provided in said roller, a source of subatmospheric pressure and means selectively communicating the source of subatmospheric pressure and the apertures in the roller as the roller passes over the supply of sheets of material.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rollers are provided with material sheet engaging ridges and the apertures in said one of the rollers are provided in the ridges thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said one of the rollers includes an interior conduit therein and the means communicating the source of subatmospheric pressure and the apertures in the rollers includes said interior conduit, a passageway provided in each of the links communicating with said interior conduit, a port in the links communicating with said paspath and means mounted on the links adapted to open said valve during the passage of each link over the opening in said source. of subatmospheric pressure. 

1. Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, whch comprises: a first roller; means for moving said first roller in a predetermined path over a supply of sheets of material; means for rotating said first roller about its axis in a direction wherein its peripheral motion is opposite to that of its movement along said predetermined path; means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to said first roller and be carried therearound; and means mounted adjacent said first roller for receiving a sheet of material from said first roller and orienting it parallel to the predetermined path, said means including a second roller, means mounting said second roller for movement with said first roller and for rotation, and means for guiding the sheet of material partially around said first roller and partially around said second roller.
 2. Apparatus for feeding sheets of material, which comprises: a pair of spaced endless chains, a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said endless chains, means for driving said endless chains along a predetermined path including at least one rectilinear portion, a supply Of sheets of material mounted adjacent said rectilinear portion of said predetermined path, means for rotating the rollers about their axes in a direction such that the tangential component of the rotary motion of the portion of the rollers adjacent the sheets of material is opposed to the motion of the rollers along the rectilinear path, means for causing a sheet of material from said supply to adhere to one of said rollers and be carried partially therearound, and means mounted between the two rollers of each pair for receiving a sheet of material carried partially around said one roller and orienting it parallel to the rectilinear portion of said predetermined path.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for rotating the rollers includes: a track mounted adjacent one of the endless chains and shaped similarly thereto, gear teeth provided on the track, and pinion gears mounted on the rollers and adapted to engage the gear teeth provided on the track.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a conveyor belt mounted to receive the sheets of material from said orienting means and transporting it toward a packaging machine.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for causing a sheet of material to adhere to said one of said rollers includes a plurality of apertures provided in said roller, a source of subatmospheric pressure and means selectively communicating the source of subatmospheric pressure and the apertures in the roller as the roller passes over the supply of sheets of material.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rollers are provided with material sheet engaging ridges and the apertures in said one of the rollers are provided in the ridges thereof.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said one of the rollers includes an interior conduit therein and the means communicating the source of subatmospheric pressure and the apertures in the rollers includes said interior conduit, a passageway provided in each of the links communicating with said interior conduit, a port in the links communicating with said passageway and open to the atmosphere, a valve closing said port, means mounting said source of subatmospheric pressure adajcent said rectilinear portion of said endless path, said source of subatmospheric pressure having an opening therein adjacent the endless path and means mounted on the links adapted to open said valve during the passage of each link over the opening in said source. of subatmospheric pressure. 